Iker Casillas comes to the defence of Manchester United outcast Victor Valdes

Iker Casillas has given his support to Manchester United outcast Victor Valdes, insisting his fellow goalkeeper is a victim of football becoming ungrateful. Valdes, 33, signed an 18-month deal with United in January this year after spending months training with the club during his rehabilitation following a serious knee injury.

The goalkeeper's future at Old Trafford now looks bleak, however, after a public falling out with manager Louis van Gaal, who accused the player of refusing to follow his "philosophy". Despite announcing his decision to sell the player, Valdes remains at Old Trafford, where he has been banished from the first team squad. But Porto goalkeeper Casillas – who lined up opposite the exiled goalkeeper for years during their battles as stalwarts at Real Madrid and Barcelona – is sympathetic towards his countryman.

"I want to give all my support to Victor," Casillas was quoted as saying by Sport. "He deserves a quick solution to his situation because of the type of player he is. It shows you that sometimes football is very ungrateful.

"If they had said that after a year and a half in he would be in this position, obviously no one would wish that on anyone. He has a unique mind and I hope he comes out of this. I am sure we will see him back."

Valdes was last week left out of United's Champions League squad but is bizarrely included in their Premier League squad, despite having watched all of United's games this season from the stands.

The goalkeeper has done little to clarify his situation either, sending upbeat messages through his various social media accounts despite his seemingly bleak future and posting a picture of the club crest as his Facebook cover photo. The Daily Mail recently reported that Valdes had tried to build bridges with Van Gaal, but was ignored by the Dutchman.